On the Face of It (CBL)

ON THE FACE OF IT

By Susan Hill

NOTABLE FEATURES OF THE PLAY

• Continuous Dialogue: The play consists of continuous dialogue between two characters. The uninterrupted dialogue enhances realism.

• Scanty Stage Directions: The stage directions are limited and are “NOT to influence the interpretation.”

• Simple and Direct Language: The language is simple, direct and accessible.

• Conversational Language: The dialogue contains incomplete sentences, interruptions, colloquial expressions, contractions and fragmented sentences. Examples include: “Tin doesn’t hurt, boy!” and “When it came off, did it?”

• Difference in Speech: Mr. Lamb uses more philosophical and reflective language, as in “It doesn’t signify.” Derry generally uses simpler vocabulary.

• Key Themes: Identity, Perception, & Acceptance.

• Dramatic Devices: Symbolism, & Irony.

• Ellipses (…): Ellipses indicate pauses, trailing thoughts and unspoken emotions. In Derry’s speech, they suggest hesitation, inner conflict and emotional pain.

SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPORTANT ELEMENTS

Element	Significance in the Play
Dramatic Irony	Derry’s transformation → Mr Lamb’s death; Derry finally overcomes isolation and returns to Mr Lamb, but the person who inspired his change is already dead. Creates tragedy, irony and emotional impact.
Radio-Play Technique	Dialogue + sound effects + stage directions; garden sounds, footsteps, birds and other sounds help create the setting and atmosphere through listening. The technique makes the audience imagine the action rather than merely see it.
Role of Derry’s Mother	Protective but restrictive; her concern is genuine, but her fear discourages Derry from meeting Mr Lamb. She represents fear, over-protection and social conditioning, in contrast to Mr Lamb’s encouragement of independence.
Garden	Symbol of life, openness and acceptance; it contains flowers, weeds, fruit, bees and other forms of life. It reflects Mr Lamb’s belief that everything has value and deserves attention.
Open Gate	Symbol of welcome and openness; Mr Lamb deliberately keeps his gate open because he does not want to shut himself away from people. It contrasts with Derry’s tendency to close himself off from society.
Bees Singing	Symbol of activity, life and positive perception; Mr Lamb enjoys the bees’ buzzing as “singing”, while others may dislike the same sound. It illustrates that attitude determines how we perceive things.
Weeds	Symbol of acceptance of differences; Mr Lamb sees no essential difference between a flower and a weed because both are living and growing. This reflects his belief that people too should not be judged by appearance or conventional standards.
Ladder	Symbol of engagement with life + vulnerability; Mr Lamb uses the ladder to collect apples, showing his active involvement with life despite his tin leg. Ironically, the ladder becomes the cause of his death, making it a symbol of both activity and mortality.
“Handsome is that handsome does”	Inner character > physical appearance; true “handsomeness” is determined by one's actions and character, not physical beauty. The idea directly challenges Derry’s obsession with his burnt face.
Story of the Man Who Locked Himself in a Room	Warning against excessive fear and isolation; the man tries to protect himself from every possible danger but dies when a picture falls on him. Mr Lamb uses the story to show that avoiding life cannot guarantee safety.
Ending of the Play	Derry returns → Mr Lamb is dead; the ending is tragic and ironic. Derry has learned to reject isolation just when he loses the person who taught him this lesson. His return nevertheless proves his psychological transformation and courage to face life.

DIALOGUE ANALYSIS
Read the given extract and fill the tables.

DERRY: I won’t ever look different. When I’m as old as you, I’ll look the same. I’ll still only have half a face.

MR LAMB: So you will. But the world won’t. The world’s got a whole face, and the world’s there to be looked at.

DERRY: Do you think this is the world? This old garden?

MR LAMB: When I’m here. Not the only one. But the world, as much as anywhere.

DERRY: Does your leg hurt you?

MR LAMB: Tin doesn’t hurt, boy!

DERRY: When it came off, did it?

MR LAMB: Certainly.

DERRY: And now? I mean, where the tin stops, at the top?

MR LAMB: Now and then. In wet weather. It doesn’t signify.

DIALOGUE ANALYSIS — DERRY

Derry
Dialogue	Character Traits	Tone	Mental Condition
"I won't ever look different. When I'm as old as you, I'll look the same. I'll still only have half a face."	Pessimistic, self-conscious, resigned	Defeated, bitter	Derry is struggling with self-acceptance and is fixated on his appearance. He feels hopeless about his future.
"Do you think this is the world? This old garden?"	Curious, skeptical	Questioning, doubtful	Derry is challenging Mr. Lamb's perspective, trying to understand his optimistic outlook.
"Does your leg hurt you?"	Compassionate, inquisitive	Concerned, sympathetic	Derry shows empathy and is trying to connect with Mr. Lamb by understanding his pain.
"When it came off, did it?"	Curious, empathetic	Inquisitive, sympathetic	Derry wants to know more about Mr. Lamb's experience, indicating a desire to relate and understand.
"And now? I mean, where the tin stops, at the top?"	Empathetic, curious	Concerned, sympathetic	Derry continues to show concern, indicating his growing interest in Mr. Lamb's experiences and feelings.

DIALOGUE ANALYSIS — MR. LAMB

Mr. Lamb
Dialogue	Character Traits	Tone	Mental Condition
"So you will. But the world won't. The world's got a whole face, and the world's there to be looked at."	Optimistic, philosophical	Encouraging, hopeful	Mr. Lamb tries to broaden Derry's perspective, encouraging him to look beyond his physical appearance.
"When I'm here. Not the only one. But the world, as much as anywhere."	Content, philosophical	Reflective, accepting	Mr. Lamb finds beauty and significance in his surroundings, showing contentment and acceptance.
"Tin doesn't hurt, boy!"	Humorous, practical	Light-hearted, matter-of-fact	Mr. Lamb uses humor to address Derry's concern, indicating his practical approach to life.
"Certainly."	Honest, straightforward	Matter-of-fact	Mr. Lamb is direct and honest about his experiences, not shying away from the truth.
"So you will. But the world won't. The world's got a whole face, and the world's there to be looked at."	Optimistic, philosophical	Encouraging, hopeful	Mr. Lamb tries to broaden Derry's perspective, encouraging him to look beyond his physical appearance.

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS — SAQs

1. Why does Mr. Lamb tell Derry to shift his focus from his own scarred face to the world around him? [CBSE 2026]

Mr. Lamb wants Derry to stop thinking constantly about his scarred face. He encourages him to observe the world, listen to others and discover what life has to offer. His purpose is to make Derry realise that his injury is only one part of his life and should not control his thoughts or choices.

2. “It’s got nothing to do with my face and what I look like.” How do these words reflect Derry’s changed perspective towards life? [CBSE 2026]

These words show that Derry has begun to move away from self-pity. Earlier, he believed that his burnt face was the reason for all his problems. Now he understands that he is more than his appearance. He wants to think, explore, listen and live instead of remaining isolated because of his scar.

3. “Because if I don’t go there, I’ll never go anywhere else in this world again.” What does this statement reveal about Derry’s transformation? [CBSE 2026]

The statement shows Derry’s newly developed courage and determination. Earlier, fear and self-consciousness kept him away from people. Now he understands that returning to Mr. Lamb’s garden is his first step towards facing the world. He decides not to allow fear or other people’s opinions to control his life.

4. People with physical impairments deserve acceptance, not sympathy. How does the play advocate this idea through Mr. Lamb and Derry? [CBSE 2026]

Both Mr. Lamb and Derry live with physical impairments, but their attitudes are different. Derry feels rejected and becomes trapped in self-pity, while Mr. Lamb accepts his condition and remains open to people and life. Mr. Lamb does not pity Derry; instead, he treats him as a capable person and encourages him to participate in life.

5. Derry in ‘On the Face of It’ is a victim of self-pity. Analyse Derry’s behaviour in the light of this statement. [CBSE 2025]

Derry feels that people judge him only by his burnt face. He avoids people because he expects them to pity or fear him. He even believes that his mother does not fully accept his appearance. His low confidence makes him think that nobody will ever like him. He has therefore allowed his physical injury to control his thoughts and isolate him from life.

6. “You speak peculiar things.” Why does Derry find Mr. Lamb’s conversation peculiar?

Derry is accustomed to people showing pity or discomfort because of his appearance. Mr. Lamb behaves differently. He talks naturally about life, people, weeds, bees and physical disability. He does not treat Derry as a helpless boy. His positive and unusual way of looking at life therefore seems strange to Derry.

7. Why does Mr. Lamb feel that Derry has not come to steal?

Mr. Lamb notices that Derry is frightened rather than interested in stealing anything. Derry has entered the garden by climbing the wall even though the gate is open. His behaviour suggests that he wants to remain away from people and find a quiet place. Mr. Lamb therefore understands that Derry has come to hide, not to steal.

8. What does Mr. Lamb’s open garden gate symbolise in the play?

The open gate symbolises openness, acceptance and freedom. Mr. Lamb welcomes people instead of shutting himself away because of his disability. It also contrasts with Derry’s closed attitude towards life. Derry enters through the wall, but his meeting with Mr. Lamb gradually opens the mental barriers that have separated him from the world.

9. How does the example of the man who was afraid to go outside help Mr. Lamb explain his philosophy of life?

Mr. Lamb tells Derry about a man who was so afraid of everything outside that he stayed indoors and eventually died. The example shows the danger of allowing fear to control one’s life. Mr. Lamb wants Derry to understand that avoiding life cannot protect a person from difficulties. One must face the world and use the opportunities available.

10. How does the title ‘On the Face of It’ relate to the central idea of the play?

The title suggests that appearances can give only a superficial idea about a person. Derry initially judges himself through his scarred face, while others also react to his appearance. Mr. Lamb helps him look beyond the face and recognise his abilities and feelings. The title therefore points to the need to see the person rather than merely the physical appearance.

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS — LAQs

1. Mr. Lamb’s influence on Derry saved him from a life of frustration and alienation. Substantiate the statement with evidence from the text. [CBSE 2026]

Derry enters Mr. Lamb’s garden as a lonely and bitter boy. His face has been badly burnt by acid, and he believes that people look at him with fear or pity. He avoids people and has developed a strong feeling of self-pity. Mr. Lamb, however, does not treat him as a helpless or unfortunate person. He speaks to him naturally and makes him think about the world beyond his face. He tells Derry that a person is much more than his physical appearance.

Mr. Lamb also shares his own experience of living with a tin leg. Instead of allowing his disability to isolate him, he keeps his gate open, meets people and enjoys nature. His examples about bees, weeds and the man who stayed indoors teach Derry that fear should not become a barrier to living. He even invites Derry to help him pick crab apples, making him feel useful and capable. As a result, Derry gains confidence and decides to return to the garden despite his mother’s objections. His decision marks the beginning of his movement from isolation towards an active and meaningful life.

2. Derry’s journey in ‘On the Face of It’ is not merely a journey through Mr. Lamb’s garden but a journey from self-pity to self-acceptance. Discuss. [CBSE 2026]

At the beginning of the play, Derry is emotionally isolated. The acid burn on his face has deeply affected his confidence. He believes that everyone is frightened by his appearance and that people only pretend not to notice his scar. He even fears his own reflection. As a result, he avoids people and prefers to remain alone. His physical injury has therefore created a much larger mental barrier.

His meeting with Mr. Lamb begins to break this barrier. Mr. Lamb does not pity him or focus only on his face. Instead, he talks about life, nature, people and his own disability. He encourages Derry to look at the world and think about what he wants to do. Gradually, Derry begins to understand that his face does not define his whole identity. His final decision to return to the garden is especially important. He knows that if he allows fear to stop him, he may continue avoiding life forever. Thus, Derry’s journey is a movement from fear and self-pity towards courage, self-acceptance and the willingness to face the world.